Device for winding up electric flexible cords



f nnvxcnfrglt'wmmneur ELEc'rnio i LEXIBLE.coRDs" p i exposed cordsoftelephonc-.1s,l table lamps, A

' smoothing` irons and .other electric .,utensilsare usually muchllonger thanl is necessary for jthefq fnormaluseof the apparatus, as theapparatus;"are` f not stationarybut transportablefso that they can.v be`put down at yany,desiredplace. -Thefreely i exposed cords are o'ften ahindrance when the l Y apparatus, for .instance.anelectric smoothing Viron,v is kinV use, and they are sometimes a source;l of danger as inthe case oftable lamps and table l.telephones becausefthefcord may`throw over articles standing near the apparatus. The freely s exposedcords'often get entangled, `twisted or knotted whereby'the easytransporting of `the. ap-

paratus is impeded@ This last mentioned inconf .venienceespeciallyexistsin cords forV table telephones as the comparatively longcord connecting l l the telephone with the earpiece is pulled'over the.`

' table every time when the telephone isto bey used;

so that, as the earpiece is used now "at theone s side and then fat theotherside of the table.r

twisting of the flexible cord is unavoidable.v`

This invention relates to a device designed to v avoid thisinconvenience. The deviceconsists of i a reelkcontr`olled by a springand on which the l c ordjis automatically wound and on? which,they cord'automatically unwindsas `soon as a slight n Y pull is exerted upon it,to wind up again'as' soon, asthis pull ceases. The device isl soconstructed:v 30. that it can be easily inserted in existingcords,"

`without the necessity of taking to pieces the apparatusorany part ofthe sameythe winding"y space on the'reel being subdivided b`yapartitionl into two compartments, one for each en'd of the` cord.`

. embodimentoi.' the invention illustrated" by way lcvfvexarmple in theaccompanying` drawing,

in whichy- Fig. A1` showsthe device infsectiononiline I-j-I 49;0,1"Fa2-Lt l Fig. 2 is a section lon line II-IIof Fig. v1*.

omitted... v

- '-Iig. 4 shows the axle of the device inl'elevation n 45 with one. armof they suspensionstrap in cross seetion.

online'V-V of Fig". 2.

two similar sideplates I', 2 and of a. middle disc 3l which serves as apartition"which` subdivides Y Vt'hefwinding :space into .twoycompartments. In-4 wardly directed hubs'd, 5 of theside plates I., 2

V"engage inthe hub 6 ofdiscf and aresecurelycon- 55 nected therewithina. suitable manner, for inshaped end I4 tion .of the steel plate'islmore practical owingf 40 l t0 thevfa'ctthat thef end( ofthe kSpl'llgI3, 'Which fFig". v5 is a cross section ofthe reel-*alone takenA y'I'lie reel for winding up the cord'consists .oil/"yv Y n lessened. Theinner endfl'ljoffspringjl ishook-f y shaped and hookedv behind ahook-shaped pressedl f f securely` held; the projection' Il 6` of thevreel pulls along'the outerend'of the spring, whereby -lthe stance `byscrewthreaxis. lOwing the'jcupshapedlside plates I, 2 the reellisliandytand its .windingcompartments are very spacious. A radialv slot"I'in` thefmiddle disc 3^extends to the hub. s

ofthe reel andfmerges into afcurved slot 8 ex- 5 'tending at Aangle toslot 1. By theslots-l, 8

` a. hook-is formed in the disc on whichthe cord s be hooked; At theendof the slot- 8 a cone I0 is formed bythi'ckenings on the two sides ofthe disc 3,v whichicone hastsfbase on thewalloffthe 10 l hub 6 and itsapex neartheouter edge of thedisc 3. yThis cone enlarges the baseof thehookformed s bythe slots -'I, l8, that is thepoint'jonwhich. the

cor-dis hooked,'so' that theradiusof curvature of the cord hookedA theshape of a'loop. is conside' l5' erably widened and the cord is savedvery much.`

" yFor further saving 'Y of the cord theouteredge of' j slot 8 may bethickened by a'beadl I andtheentrance to the sm 1 may havesphricaitmckenings I2. *Y The whole edge ofthe hook-shaped slot 20* "I,B'andalso th rimof disc @may havea bead-FV like reinforcement tof'makethis thin discl l3 stronger.

` Thecon'icalthickening/may extend around the disc"3, `being?interruptedonly bythe slots 1,18. 25

The semi-Wedge shaped thickenings forming icone I0 orthe circular' beadI'I servefurther for push-` ing thecord in the winding compartmentstowards the outer side"v order 'to bettery distribute `the same. '30

In the space `formed by the 4'hubs e, l5 of the "discs l. 2 andby thehubrB of the disc 3 aheli-` lcally wound spring I3 is accommodated; theliook`` s of which; with interposition of steelpiate 5,'15 hookedfbehmda-weige-fshaped, 35. .projection I6 on the` inner side ofk hub I.` Thishook-shaped end I4of spring I3' maydirectly "act upon the projectionIS'Without the intermedi# ary of the steel plateli, although theinterpolahas been annealed beforeit is bent', doesnot possess suicientresistance against'unbending.

The interpolated steel kplate I5AL transmits the pressure" occurringbetween the reel and `the ',"spring upon the base 'of `the hook, whereasif the whereby Vthe tendency of this end to straightenis vout portion I8of the tubular axle I9. If'fthe reel is turnedinclockwi'se direction,the axle IS'being pressure is directlygtransmitted the pressure wm f actupon the hok'lshaped endfof theV spring.r

spring is put under tension. kIf the spring is slack and the reel turnedin anti-clockwise direction,V the spring is not pulled alongv and thehook VI1 slides without effect over the pressed out portion I8. Thenovel connection of the spring with the reelY prevents the spring frombreaking if the push the spring together with the axle intorjtljle,

casing from the side, the connection with thereel casing being thenautomatically effected if the reel is turned in clockwise direction.

Owing to this manner of connecting the' spring with the casing and withthe axle, wea`r.ken'in'g"of:`

the spring by rivet holes or the like is avoided, and

the connection does notrequire any auxiliary. n,

` lWith' this object in view the caps have in the means, such as rivetsor the like;

The reel can turn around the axle'` I9 in clockwise direction during theunwinding of the cord and in anti-clockwise direction during, thewinding of the cord A guide strap V2) forthe cord tol be wound up issecured in the ends of the tubular axle I4. fThis guide'strap may be ofany suitable shapeand made in one or several parts. In the forni ofconstruction shown itis made of one'. piece of Wire to which by variousbends the'form. shown in Figs. l to 3 is given.l Lugs2I, designed l toreceive the-bearing b ush'22of a guide pulley 23 and an eye 24 for thepassage of the cordare provided in the upwardly directed end of' the'strap. The'bearng bush 22 isv formed by a nar-` rowly wound spiralspring around whichthe pulley 23 can rotate. `Head pins 25, theydiameter of which approximately corresponds with the inner diameterofthe spiral spring, are inserted intothe ends of the bearing bush 22,the s hankof the i pins being roughened. `Thefpins arevheld in the bushby the roughening butcan be removedif a i to turnin clockwise directionthe reel kseveral times around thesecurely held axle I9, the springcertain force is exerted, this being necessary if` the guide pulley 23hasrto be removed inorder vto thread one end of the cord into the eye24.` The easy exchangeability of the pulley 23 makes it possible toinsert the-windingvup dexriceinexist-`4 ing cordswithout dismountingofthe guide strap,

With this object in view it is merely necessary ISbeing'th-ereby putunder tension, the middle portion of the cord bent in loop shape beingthen v placed into the hook-shaped slot 1, 8, one end of thecord'threaded into the eye 24V andthe pulleyv 23 re-inserted again. Ifthe reelis then relieved i and the strap securely held, the reelturnsunder theaction of spring I3 in anti-,clockwise direcf tionand winds upthe cord 9, the twoends sepa`' rately'r each in one of the windingcompartments formed by the disc `3. YBy a slight pull exerted s ruponthe cord'endsthe cordl'unwinds 'fromthe .reel :which is turned inopposition to the action of the spring 2,3 andthe springj` 23 put undertensionagain. The cord caribe stretched for its l,whole length withoutbeingpulled out ofA the slot i `1, 8, owing to the hook-shape of theslot.

vThe. bow 20 is bent approximately at right angles in the axle I9, the"outer end forming a 'f loop 26 for holding the cord which is passedthrough it. The loop 26 may` also be fitted with a' pulley or roller for4guiding `tl'ie .cord. The

hollow axle IBhas atits ends axially extending w bayonet'` slots 21,'21a,f one for each of the vertically upwardly directedarms 20 and theother" for the horizontal arms 20a, sov that these slots extend in theform of construction shown by way ofl example in the circumferentialdirection of aoeaaaiy Y 1.'lA device 'for `winding vthe axleapproximately at an angle ofx90 apart.

yThe strapl 20, resilient in lateral direction, is

placed over the ends' of the axle so that it slips into the slotsandfinally drops, after a slight turning, at the bend of slot 21 intothe portion of the slotl which is farthest directed towards the reel`middle. lnthis positionthe strap 20 is securely held by means [of caps28; pushed over the ends of the axle.` The caps t tightly over the axleends and have, near their openends inwardly projecting'nipples 29,which, when the caps are beingpushed on,'slide' along the slotsr 21 andengage' behind the bend` in the slot when the `cap is-turned -relativeto the axle I9.

. Toremove the `caps they must be turned back against which the caps.are, however, ensured to prevent' unintentional detaching o-f the caps.

open endin front of th-e nipples 29 a semi-circular'incision 30corresponding to the thickness of the kwire of `the strap 20, saidincision, when the capis being turned in order lto bring its nipple29'into the bendof lslot 21,l snaps over thev end nection of the wirestrap -withthe axleand the securing of this connection. may, however, be

, effected in anyzother suitable manner.;

The wire strap, made in one part or ofseveral parts, may for instance beinserted intovr merely axially extending end Vslots'of the axle andsecuredin position by caps tightlytting on the ends of the axle. If theaxle vis made of sheet metalsoy that itV has an open seam, the outwardlydirectedresiliency; of the tubular axle will be utilizedto securely holdthe'caps pushed over the axle'ends.v 'v Y Werclaimj cords; comprising aspringcontrolled reel having ftwo side plates and yamiddle discsubdividing the winding'space of said4 reel yinto two compartments inwhich the cord endsarevwound and vunwound separatelyv the one from theother, the middle disc havingaslot composed 'of a radial portion and ofa portion extending in circumferential direction relative to the reeland forming an angular extensionV of said radial slot so that `at the`point at Whichthe two portionsof'the slot'join a hook is formed in thediscdesignedto hold the cord.

.y 2. A device for windingvup, 'electric -flexible cords, comprising 'aspring controlled reel having two side plates and a middle discsubdividing the winding space of saidreel into'two compartments inwhich'v the cord ends lare wound and unwound separately the one fromthe` other, the middle disc having a slot composed of a radial'portionand of a portion extending in circumferential direction relative to thereel and forming an angular extension of said radial slot'so that at thepoint at whichthetwo portions of theslot join a hook is formed in thedisc designedto holdlthecord, and acone formed by thickeningson the twosides of the. disc at theV end of said slot forming a wide bearing forthe cord.

3.A 'device for winding ii'p electric l flexible cords, lcomprising aspring controlled reel having two side plates and a middle discsubdividing the up "electric nexibie i of the disc at the end of saidslot and of semiwedge shaped form for improving the distribution of thecord to be Wound up in the winding up compartment.

4. A device as specified in claim 1, comprising in combination with theside plate and the middle disc ofthe reel, a hub on each of said sideplates,

a hub on said middle disc, said hubs forming a reel casing, a torsionspring in said casing, a projection on said casing, said spring having ahookshaped end, and a steel plate on said spring end bearing againstsaid projection.

5. device for winding up electric flexible cords,v comprising incombination a spring controlledreel having two side plates and a middledisc subdividing the winding space of said reel into two compartmentslin which the cord ends are wound up or unwound separately the one fromthe other, an axle forsaid reel having ybayonet slots in its ends, awire strap for guiding the cord and engaging with its ends in saidslots, and caps one on each end of said axle for securelyv holding saidstrap in said slots.

6. A device for winding up electric flexible cords, comprising incombination a spring controlled reel having two side plates and a middledisc subdividing thewinding space of `saidA reel into two compartmentsin which the cord ends are wound up or unwound separately the one fromthe other, an axle for said reel having bayonet slots in its ends, awire strap for guidingthe cord and engaging with its ends in said slots,caps one on each end of said axle for securely holding said strap insaid slots, and an inwardly directed projection in each of said capsnear the open end of the cap adapted to engage behind the knee of thecorresponding bayonet-shaped slot.

7. A device for winding up electric exible cords, comprising incombination a spring controlled reel having two side plates and a middledisc subdividing the winding space of said reel into two compartments inwhich the cord ends are wound up or unwound separately the one from theother, an axle for said reel having bayonet slots in its ends, a wirestrap for guiding the cord and engaging with its ends in said slots,caps one on each end of said axle for securely holding said strap insaid slots, and an inwardly directed projection in each'of said capsnear the open end of the cap adapted to engage behind the knee of thecorresponding bayonet-shaped slot, said caps having each a curvedincision in the edge of the open end adapted to hold the correspondingarm of said strap.

8. A device for winding up f electric flexible cords, comprising incombination a spring conl the other, an axle for said reel having slotsin its ends, and a wire strap for guiding the cord and engaging with itsends in said slots, said strap made of a piece of wire bent severaltimes to produce the strap shape, lugs formed near one end of saidstrap, a bush mounted in said lugs, a guide pulley rotatable on saidbushand adapted to guide one end of the cord on to and off said reel, aneye formed on the end of said strap and adapted to maintain the cord onsaid pulley, 'and a guide loop formed on the other end of said strap andadapted to guide the other end of the cord on to and off said reel.

9. A device for winding up electric flexible cords, comprising incombination a spring controlled reel having'two side plates and a middle"disc subdividing the winding space of said reel into two compartments,in which the cord ends are` wound `up or yunwound separately the onefrom the other, an axle for said 'reel having slots in its ends, and a.wire strap for guiding the cord and engaging with its ends in saidslots, said strap made of a piece of Wire bent several times to pro-Aduce the strap shape, lugs formed near one end of said strap, a bushconsisting of a' closely Wound wire mounted in said lugs, a guide pulleyrotatable on said bush and adapted to guide one end of the cord on toand oif said reel, an eye formed on the end of said strap and adapted tomaintain the cord on said pulley, a guide'loop formed on the FRIEDRICHW. HEUSINKVELLD. ERNST Gaossn 13RAUCKMANN.,v

